Father convicted in infant abuse case

Clinton Randall Staff Writer

January 9, 2014

GREENVILLE - A Greenville man will be sentenced later this month after being convicted of abuse of a 10-day-old infant.

On Nov. 28, 2012, the infant was transported and treated for brain and spinal injuries, broken bones and facial bruising at Children’s Medical Center in Dayton. Charges were later filed against the parents, Cody R. Cantrell, 22, and Chelsea Hartman, 21, of Greenville, after it was discovered the infant suffered the injuries while in their care.

The father of the child, 22-year-old Cody R. Cantrell, pleaded guilty under the Alford plea Wednesday afternoon in the Darke County Court of Common Pleas to two third degree felony counts of Endangering Children. The Alford plea stems from a 1970 case in North Carolina in which the defendant agrees to being sentenced for the crime, but does not admit guilt. Cantrell was indicted in December of 2012 on one count of Felonious Assault and one count of Endangering Children, felonies of the second degree.

“The state doesn’t agree with the defense on the facts in the case and are free to argue and appropriate sentence,” stated Darke County Prosecutor Kelly Ormsby. “The defendant is aware the state will be asking for a prison sentence and the defense will be looking for a community control sanction of some kind.”

After a pre-sentence investigation, Cantrell will appear for sentencing on Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. He faces a maximum of six years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

“The plea agreement still gives the court the option of a prison sentence which I feel is the best option due to the circumstances in this case,” stated lead detective Eric Roberts of the Greenville Police Department after Wednesday’s court proceedings.

Chelsea Hartman is scheduled for a jury trial in February on one count of Endangering Children, a third degree felony.

It has been reported that the child, who is now over a year old, is in foster care and doing very well.